Ships from: acton, MA
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
The complete theatrical works of the immortal Bard, uniquely supplemented with annotations and critical analysis by a host of eminent scholars, including Samuel Coleridge and Samuel Johnson, plus a biography of Shakespeare himself. For the collection of the Shakespeare enthusiast, and the edification of the Shakespeare novice.
Anonymous
Posted September 7, 2008
There are several fine Shakespeare collections available from contemporary editors who concentrate on introducing and explaining Shakespeare and his works to the uninitiated. These volumes include photos of recent productions and offer current reviews and contemporary directorial interpretations, and they are praiseworthy for accomplishing the intentions of their editors. Without such works new audiences and readers of the Bard might lose their way on the path to enjoyment and the full appreciation of this singular talent. This Globe Illustrated Shakespeare is not for the same readership. It is for those of us who already know Shakespeare and wish to revel in his work. Readers of this edition will not find the beauty of the playwright's verse interrupted by cloying footnotes that presume to define for us the meaning of words we already grasp, those readers who do not giggle when we read of a 'bare bodkin.' We know--and need not be reminded--that Shakespeare has been performed in the mountains, in the round, and in the nude. But his works have also been lavishly and meticulously illustrated centuries ago by a pair of brothers who dedicted decades of their lives to present to you the hundreds of scenes and characters you'll find in The Globe Illustrated Shakespeare. This volume is fine art. It is for unashamed lovers of language and of pictures. It is neither 'gritty' nor 'real' in the fashionable sense. If you want to know what people are saying and writing about Shakespeare these days, buy some other edition of his plays. But for analysis and opinions that date back hundreds of years and that are truly more revealing, buy this edition and be enlightened and entertained. There will be readers who will complain that the book is too big, too difficult, too dated, and too expensive, and their opinions would be difficult to counter. But then, Shakespeare can also be enjoyed in that marvelous, contemporary format--the paperback.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
The complete theatrical works of the immortal Bard, uniquely supplemented with annotations and critical analysis by a host of eminent scholars, including Samuel Coleridge and Samuel Johnson, plus a biography of Shakespeare himself. For the collection of the Shakespeare enthusiast, and the edification of the Shakespeare novice.